Since 1846 the company has walked away with 4,300 awards, among which 18 highly coveted gold medals. Despite the temptation to rest on our laurels, to do so would be a betrayal of 150 years of unmatched ingenuity. Challenge has always been part of the Ulysse Nardin philosophy. When a group of friends and I acquired this cornerstone of the Swiss watch industry back in 1983, we were determined to live up to the glories of the Ulysse Nardin name. To do this, we faced the task of preserving a tradition of the finest craftsmanship while augmenting these achievements with today’s technology. A key figure in the evolution of the company is Dr. Ludwig Oechslin, whom I met in Switzerland some 19 years ago. This remarkable individual, who combines lofty scholarship with a practical passion for watchmaking, has the ability to transform radical ideas into the most innovative mechanisms. Taking this many steps further than the hobby it had once been for Ludwig, he helped Ulysse Nardin to stride back into the horological hall of fame with the revolutionary Astrolabium Galileo Galilei. This spirit of innovation was taken two steps further with the Planetarium Copernicus and the Tellurium Johannes Kepler. More than just mechanical watchmaking, this “Trilogy of Time” is rooted in the realm of physical and philosophical research. Ulysse Nardin’s renewed status in its field is a direct consequence of the dedication of Dr. Ludwig Oechslin, our watchmakers and all those associated with the company. The members of our team have added a new chapter to a long and glorious history. Evidence of their virtuosity is to be found in patents accumulated over the past decade, the greatest number in the field of mechanical watchmaking. Some of these patents found their first application in the Perpetual Ludwig, created for the company’s 150th anniversary. In a groundbreaking leap of originality, the date, day, month and year indications on the perpetual calendar can be set backwards and forwards with a single crown. Even the year 2100 needs hold no fear for owners, who will be able to adjust the perpetual calendar instantly with the same crown. To mark the beginning of the new millennium, Ulysse Nardin introduced the GMT± Perpetual, two unique and exclusive timepieces brought together in one watch. The future of Ulysse Nardin is looking as golden as its past, due largely to the enduring support of our staff, agents and retailers. I thank each and every one of them with all my heart. Their faith, loyalty, talent and commitment are essential to us in our quest to redefine the boundaries of mechanical watchmaking and to keep Ulysse Nardin in its pre-eminent position for the next years.